The First Step

In basketball (and if you're a basketball player, you probably know what I mean), we have what we call "the first step" wherein the offensive player (the one with the ball) looks straight at his defender, apparently reads his mind, and then in a flash, leaves him using a quick first step to drive to the basket for a lay-up.

Kanina lang, God reminded me of the importance of the first step as he gave me that analogy on basketball. We have all heard of that famous saying na madalas sinsabe sa mga speech ng valedictorian: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". We have also heard of the popular slogan: "The hardest thing to do is to begin". Alam ko gasgas na 'tong mga quotes/sayings/one-liners (or whatever they are) na 'to but they are indeed very true. I can say that based on experience.

I heard God's voice clearly in my mind saying: "Sa'yo ang first step anak" . I was immediately challenged! Natauhan ako! It was like He was telling me: "Hindi ko gagawin yan (first step) para sa 'yo. I'm not going to spoil you, trabaho mo yan". The first step, only the first step, is ours. The rest belongs to God.

I have experienced this so many times before. First, in making my assignments. Naranasan nio na ba ung ayaw niong umpisahan ang isang homework, di nio masimulan kasi parang kukulangin kayo ng time para matapos un, but when you begin to do it, and afterwards finished it, you realized that it wasn't as hard as you thought. In fact it was enjoyable pa pala.

Secondly, sa chores. Dati (a long long time ago, hehe), when I was supposed to clean my room because it was so disorganized, parang ayokong simulan kasi parang 'di kasya ung araw. But when I started to put this here, and to place that there, etc,etc, parang ayokong nang tumigil. And when I finished, I was like: "O ano, nasan pa, ano pa gagawin?" hahahaha.

Huwell, that's the Law of Momentum my friends (accdg. to John Maxwell). Momentum is the leader's best friend. But momentum, just like anything else, doesn't just come with the stroke of a wand, it is achieved, using the first step of course.

Then finally - with my prayer life (I say this to all Christians out there). Many times I have told myself: "Magpe-pray ako, Magpe-pray ako, Magpe-pray ako, but actually ended up sleeping and then waking up, realizing . . .wahahaha!!! (I hate those times). That was due to my lack of determination to do the first step. Yun na nga lang gagawin ko, 'di ko pa magawa. Kasi, as God made me realize, the moment you take that first step to sit/kneel/stand quietly alone with God, and start to open your mouth to sing/pray to Him, Holy Spirit na ang bahala sa following events. Tuluy-tuloy na un! You will find yourself praying for the things you didn't even know you should pray for.

"Draw near to Me, and I will draw near to you" (James 4:8) Remember the Jordan River incident, when the Israelites crossed over Jordan on dry ground? (Joshua chapter 3) The river stopped flowing only after the priest stepped into the rushing current. The piling up of the waters (defying the laws of gravity) was God's doing, but the step of faith was man's work. See.

I wrote this primarily to remind myself of this revelation, secondly to help others who in a way , has the same struggle. May God give you deeper revelations on this one. :-)